davidmpires Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 What it says on the title. I have to learn a new song for the band that involves drop D, although I have the B string, fingering wise would be alot easier if I had the B string tuned to D. I don't really want to detune just for one song. The song is Slither btw Anyone plays it on a 5 string? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Personally I wouldn't try higher than a .115 tuning to D, considering I usually use .100 Can't you tune the E down to D? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='Protium' post='715116' date='Jan 16 2010, 07:15 PM']Personally I wouldn't try higher than a .115 tuning to D, considering I usually use .100 Can't you tune the E down to D?[/quote] Sure I can but I want to avoid stopping to do that just for one song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d-basser Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 (edited) I would detune the E or learn it from 3rd on the B, something like -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------3------------------ ----1-2---4-5------4-5---3---1-2- --3-----3------3--------3---3------- When I played it on a 6 I detuned my E to D and B to A Edited January 16, 2010 by d-basser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='d-basser' post='715121' date='Jan 16 2010, 07:22 PM']I would detune the E or learn it from 3rd on the B When I played it on a 6 I detuned my E to D and B to A[/quote] +1, I used to tune my 5 to ADADG which is probably what destroyed my 10W practice amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='d-basser' post='715121' date='Jan 16 2010, 07:22 PM']I would detune the E or learn it from 3rd on the B, something like -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------3------------------ ----1-2---4-5------4-5---3---1-2- --3-----3------3--------3---3------- When I played it on a 6 I detuned my E to D and B to A[/quote] Yeah I've been playing that way now, but it doesn't sound the same, I think i need to tidy up. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah5string Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I used to cover this. I found fretting it on the B was a hell of a job seeing as it's fast and as you said, doesn't sound the same. I'd be worried about the neck tension tuning the B to D, hence why I just did BDADG for the one song save risking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 You could try a capo on the 3rd fret - instead D standard tuning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 [quote name='Sarah5string' post='715168' date='Jan 16 2010, 08:27 PM']I used to cover this. I found fretting it on the B was a hell of a job seeing as it's fast and as you said, doesn't sound the same. I'd be worried about the neck tension tuning the B to D, hence why I just did BDADG for the one song save risking it.[/quote] We'll see how it goes on monday at rehearsals. I've learned both ways to be able to switch and play the way it sounds best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickH Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 An expensive option, but maybe good if you could use it for other drop-D stuff, it to pop a D-tuner in there. (Please dear God nobody post any Michael Manring vids up. We've all seen them now, thanks) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Oh I know what you mean like what Maring does, don't know if you ever heard of him? Nah i'm skint and I don't really want to go that route for one song. But thanks for reminding me of Manring, I'm off to Youtube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witterth Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 [quote name='dannybuoy' post='715214' date='Jan 16 2010, 09:23 PM']You could try a capo on the 3rd fret - instead D standard tuning![/quote] capo ..... on a bass ......???? see what BC wars that can cause! cant remember the thread title now but ...boy... some guys got cross about that one.....not bothered mesen ...just DONT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higgie Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Just drop the E down to D. Easy fingering, and sounds better. Is it REALLY that much hassle just to drop the string a tone for one song and then back up again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chardbass Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Drop D is pretty quick and simple- you can almost do it by eye. I had it down to a fine art when I played 4 string. Think it was a quarter or half turn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 yeah in my old band we went from D standard to drop C quite regularly and it got quite easy for me to do it by ear once i figured out how much i needed to turn the peg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarPig Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Do you use the B-E on the B string? If not then maybe try a thicker guage E string and tune it to D, giving DEADG? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 Yeah I do use it. I think I'll just have to detune and get use to it. I'm worried that I might take too long, and we have a really good in March and I don't want to screw it up by leaving the others waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 You could always just pick up a cheap S/H 4 string and have it pretuned to drop D. Most players take a back up bass to gigs which they don't use 99% of the time so have one that you do use. You can then retune it back to normal in the break if you do 2 sets then it will be there as a 'normal' backup for one set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 I just bought a Boss TU-3, my first pedal in years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 (edited) I'd just go with dropping the E string to D for the song, probably the easiest solution. Does the guitarist not have to re-tune? If he does then I can almost guarantee that you won't be the one they end up waiting for. Edited January 18, 2010 by Maverick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KennysFord Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 [quote name='witterth' post='715342' date='Jan 17 2010, 12:13 AM']capo ..... on a bass ......???? see what BC wars that can cause! cant remember the thread title now but ...boy... some guys got cross about that one.....not bothered mesen ...just DONT [/quote] Best keep my trap shut then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veils Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 +1 for ADADG - that's how I used to tune in a previous band. Also, I would have thought that tuning your E surely only takes a few seconds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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